Calla lily plant named ‘Night Club’

ABSTRACT

‘Night Club’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having purple colored spathes that have a funnel shape. The flower stems are strong and long lasting. The leaves are green with no maculations present.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Night Club’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Night Club’.

‘Night Club’ is a product of a planned breeding program having theobjective of creating Zantedeschia varieties for pot flower productionin a wide range of colors and classic flower shapes. ‘Night Club’ wasselected in 2005 in Moss Landing, Calif. as an inbred seedling selectedfrom an open-pollinated population and self-pollinated for manygenerations. As such, its exact parentage is unknown and comparisonsthereto cannot be provided.

The new variety was first asexually reproduced through tissue cultureshoot propagation in October of 2006 in Moss Landing, Calif. Asexualreproductions of ‘Night Club’ have demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new variety are retained andreproduced true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in 15 cm pots at 77 days from planting in 't Zand, The Netherlandsunder greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used inhorticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th)Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Night Club’ which, in combination, distinguishthis calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Purple colored spathes;    -   2. Funnel shaped spathes; and    -   3. Firm, long-lasting peduncles.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Night Club’ to similar Zantedeschiasprengeri varieties ‘Night Life’ (unpatented) and ‘Paco’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 24,246).

TABLE 1 Comparison Differing Comparison Present variety variety trait(s)expression expression ‘Night Life’ Spathe color Red-Purple Group PurpleGroup RHS RHS 59A N79A to N79B Throat spot Present Absent ‘Paco‘Flowering time 70-75 days to flower 40-45 days to flower

Further, ‘Night Club’ has more trumpet shaped, smoother edged, andnarrower inflorescences than ‘Night Life’. ‘Night Club’ flowers 7 daysearlier than ‘Night Life’. Also, ‘Night Club’ exhibits superior pedunclestrength (21 days to nodding) than ‘Night Life’ (12 days to nodding).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety at 77days from planting, with the colors being as nearly true as is possiblewith color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous.    -   -   Form.—Semi-spreading.        -   Average spread.—27-41 cm.        -   Branch number.—Average.        -   Branch color.—Brown Group RHS 200B to 200C.        -   Height of leaf canopy above the soil.—11-19 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil.—20-28 cm.        -   Number of inflorescences per tuber.—16-18 cm in diameter:            7-15.        -   Lastingness of inflorescences on the plant.—About 14 days.        -   Main use.—Potted plant.        -   Average time of flowering.—Tubers planted in the field in            May in 't Zand, The Netherlands bloom in July. Tubers            planted in a greenhouse in February in 't Zand, The            Netherlands bloom in April.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Strong tolerance to Pythium root            rot and Erwinia bulb soft rot.        -   Hardiness.—Not tested.-   Leaves:    -   -   Number per plant.—17-29.        -   Width.—4-6 cm, with broadest position slightly below the            middle.        -   Length.—17-23 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Upper surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS 146B, with no            maculations present. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 143C,            with no maculations present.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).        -   Leaf venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color: Yellow-Green Group            RHS 144C to 144D.        -   Lobes.—None present.        -   Petiole.—Length: 11-20 cm. Diameter: 10-12 mm. Texture:            Smooth. Shape: Cylindrical. Strength: Medium to weak. Color:            Upper surface: Green Group RHS 143B to 143C. Lower surface:            Yellow-Green Group RHS 144B to 144C.-   Spathe:    -   -   Length.—5-8 cm.        -   Width.—3.5-4.5 cm.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Shape.—Funnel.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Apex.—Caudate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Throat spot: Absent. Upper surface: Purple Group RHS            N79A to N79B. Lower surface: Purple Group RHS N79A to N79B.-   Spadix:    -   -   Length.—35-50 mm.        -   Diameter.—8-11 mm.        -   Color.—Yellow-Orange Group RHS 16B to 16C.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright from base.        -   Apex.—Rounded and Yellow-Orange Group RHS 23A to 23B.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Strength.—Strong and erect, with no nodding observed until            day 21.        -   Length.—20-29 cm.        -   Diameter.—8-12 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Base: Yellow-Green Group RHS 144C to 144D. Upper            portion: Purple Group RHS N77A.-   Seeds:    -   -   Number/flower.—25.        -   Length.—2.2-4.3 mm.        -   Diameter.—2.1-3.1 mm.        -   Color.—White Group RHS 155B to 155C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Yellow            Group RHS 8B to 8C.        -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: White Group RHS            155D.        -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Yellow Group RHS 8B to            8C.        -   Pistil.—Number: 15-30. Length: About 1 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter: Less            than 1 mm.        -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Varies between 1 to 10 mm.            Diameter: Varies between 1 to 10 mm. Color: Top: Yellow            Group RHS 3A. Bottom: Yellow Group RHS 4B to 4C.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘NightClub’ as herein described and illustrated.